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SoCal's Main Water Supplier Warns Farmers to Prepare For Cuts

Potential water shortages has San Diego County growers making plans to cope. KPBS reporter Ed Joyce has details.

SoCal's Main Water Supplier Warns Farmers to Prepare For Cuts

Potential water shortages has San Diego County growers making plans to cope. KPBS reporter Ed Joyce has details.

Southern California's main water supplier has warned farmers to prepare for cuts if the weather stays dry.

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San Diego County Farm Bureau Executive Director Eric Larson says the Metropolitan Water District will likely call for a 30 percent reduction in irrigation water supplies starting in January.He says the open-ended reductions could last several years.

Larson : But it will be in place until there's a substantial change in the water picture in Southern California. And considering that we're in the eighth year of a drought on the Colorado River, and there is serious environmental issues in the Sacramento Delta, when we say open-ended we have no idea how long this is going to last.

He says some farmers would reduce plantings while citrus and avocado growers would reduce production. Those farmers receive a break on water prices in exchange for being first in line for mandatory cutbacks.

Ed Joyce, KPBS News.